4 -
public, the special needs of customers who require security at
search level have been catered for by the ESA-IRS exclusive "TOP
SECRET" feature which ensures the maximum level of security
(short of scrambling at telecommunication level, although this
could be performed upon request).
Üther online services e.g. Private files, Online Data Entry, Data
Exchange and Dissemination are dealt with separately in para VI.
B. Offline Services.
The results of online searches, under the form of printouts can
be obtained through an appropriate command and dispatched by mail
from one of the remote printing stations (France, United Kingdom,
Netherlands, Italy) to customers worldwide. The turnaround time
(excluding postal delays) is one working day.
It is also possible to create current awareness profiles on all
databases.
The results of the profiles are sent automatically with monthly
frequency, to customers for the major databases viz NASA,
CHEMABS, COMPENDEX, NTIS, INSPEC, PASCAL.
These profiles are considered as confidential and are tied to the
password of the customer who generated them so as to avoid any
possibility of illegal viewing or accidental erasure.
In contrast, EA-IRS staff has produced "Standard profiles"
available on the NASA File to anyone by subscription. The service
is currently being extended to other databases - currently INSPEC
- under the general name BASELIB.
Finally, ESA-IRS is the normal channel to provide, under request,
ESA and NASA reports in hard copy or microfiche form.
C. Support Services.
They are constituted by:
- a comprehensive user manual
- a full set of online tutorials
- a set of information sheets (one per database) on all aspects
of searching which may be needed at the terminal
a quick reference guide
the bimonthly liaison bulletin News & Views
didactic material for training seminars
i
Computer Aided Instruction programmes are under development.
D. Help Services. .
- During all of the 20 hours daily availability of the ESA-IRS
system (shutdown window from 18.30 to 22.30 hrs Italian time)
there is a possibility to send messages to a "Duty Officer"
which acts as a help desk.
Proca 3
